Since 1996, 16 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws that allow certain medical uses of marijuana despite the federal prohibition against its use. In May 2011, Delaware became the most recent state to pass medical marijuana legislation. Under Delaware's law, qualifying patients will be referred to state-licensed and regulated “compassion centers,” which will be responsible for growing, cultivating, and dispensing the marijuana.

If you want to postpone or cancel a REAC inspection for good cause, the first step is to contact the HUD Hub or Program Center that has jurisdiction over the site to request the postponement or cancellation.

REAC inspector Kay McIlmoil says there are reasons that call for a postponement or cancellation. Examples were outlined in a letter from HUD's acting director of the Office of Asset Management to the National Affordable Housing Management Association, &ldq...

HUD's regulations governing resident participation in multifamily housing projects are found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 24 CFR Part 245. The regulations reflect HUD's commitment to resident participation, individually and through legitimate resident organizations. HUD has emphasized that compliance with these requirements is expected. Site owners and managers found violating these regulations can face sanctions that include monetary penalties.

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Although HUD's “One Strike” rule was announced in 1996 by the Clinton administration and took effect in its final form nearly a decade ago, it has been a controversial and confusing regulation.

The rule is intended to help sites screen applicants for drug abuse and other criminal activity. It also supports the effort to evict households because of drug abuse or other crimes. The rule spells out admission and screening requirements with the goal of ...

The REAC Reverse Auction Program (RAP) published revised Guidelines for Scheduling REAC Inspections on Oct. 20, 2010, for inspections of multifamily and public housing sites that are awarded through the RAP. There are two exceptions: the Puerto Rico and New York Housing Authorities, which are governed by their own special protocols.

The Insider spoke with REAC Inspector Kay McIlmoil, who offered a summary of the guidelines along with some helpful suggestion...

Suppose a household member at your site has a baby or a relative who previously had not lived in the household moves in. Whatever the reason for the change in the household composition, you need to know about it. That's because HUD rules require that you know and take certain steps when you learn of such a change. For example, you may need to recalculate the household's income and rent, or possibly require the family to transfer to a larger unit at your site.

HUD expects site owners and managers to build and maintain a good relationship with residents. To create what HUD calls “a suitable living environment,” the participation and cooperation of residents is essential.

Not only does a cooperative relationship make day-to-day life at sites more welcoming and safe, it also contributes to a more successful operation of the site overall. HUD views residents and resident organizations as valuable allies.

The Tenant Rental Assistance Certification System (TRACS) was designed by HUD to help improve financial controls over assisted housing programs by automating manual procedures and incorporating automated controls.

TRACS collects certified tenant data from owners and management agents via Form HUD-50059, Owner's Certification of Compliance with HUD's Tenant Eligibility and Rent Procedures, and new Form 50059-A. The collected data undergo an editing process ...

HUD recently issued guidance designed to offer applicants for housing the opportunity to give supplemental information about individuals or organizations that could be of help in resolving any issues that might arise during their tenancy or provide any special care or needed services. Such individuals or organizations could be family members or friends, or any social, health, or advocacy group.

Owners and managers administering a multifamily housing project-based Section 8 program may not evict or terminate the assistance of individuals if the asserted grounds for such action involve instances of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.

These individuals are protected under the Violence Against Women Act and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005, commonly referred to as VAWA. On Oct. 1, 2009, HUD issued guidance (Notice H 09-15) on im...